Reverse Dictionary: PRIM

ADJECTIVES
► BUTTONED UP reluctant to reveal emotion or to express thoughts freely; reserved, inhibited, or formal in manner or disposition; repressed prim → 1767
► DAPSTUCK prim, proper; dapper → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► EYEGLASSY prim or prissy → 1922 colloq.
► MAISK prim, fastidious; applied esp. to one who has to be coaxed to eat → 1929 Sc.
► MEE-MAW affected, mincing, prim → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► MEESK prim, fastidious; applied esp. to one who has to be coaxed to eat → 1929 Sc.
► MIM prim, demure; affectedly modest or shy; prudish; primly silent or reticent → 1641 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► MIMINY-MOUTHED prim, demure, affected → 1897 Eng. dial.
► MIM-MOUTHED affectedly prim or proper in speech, etc.; reticent, shy at speaking out; soft-spoken → 1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► MIMP prim, demure, affected → 1905 Sc. & Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► MIMSEY prim, prudish → 1880 Eng. dial.
► MIM-SPOKEN affectedly prim or proper in speech, etc.; reticent, shy at speaking out; soft-spoken → 1896 Sc.
► MISS-NANCYFIED effeminate; prim → E19 sl.
► NEBSIE ► NEBSY prim, precise → 1825 Sc. obs. (Bk.)
► PERJINK fussy, fastidious, prim; neat → 1889 Sc.
► PRIMMY rather prim → 1857
► PRIMP orig. (of the mouth, etc.): pursed, set, primly shut; later, prim, neat; affected → c1590
► PRIMSY prim, demure, formal; precise → 1786 chiefly Sc.
► PRISSY prim, prudish, overly modest, precise, over-particular → 1895 Amer. dial.
► QUAINT dainty, fastidious, nice; prim → 1483 obs.
► QUEEM prim, affectedly nice; over-fastidious → 1924 Sc.
► QUIM prim, affectedly nice → 20C Irish sl.

ADVERBS
► MIMLIE primly, prudishly → 1905 Sc. (Bk.)
► PERJINKLY precisely, scrupulously; fussily, primly → 1775 Sc.

NOUNS
► MIMNESS prudishness, primness → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► PRIMOSITY a state of primness, prudery → a1839 humorous usage, obs.

NOUNS – PERSON
► DOZZLE a prim, stiff-looking person → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► FANCY DOO-DAD WOMAN a woman who is overly prim or conscious of decorum → 1968 Amer. dial.
► FRUMP a prim, grouchy old woman → 1817
► MISS NANCY a prim person of either sex → 19C colloq.
► MISS PRISS a female who is a bit too prim or acting fussily feminine → 1992 Amer. South  (Bk.)
► OLD MAID a person with the alleged characteristics of an elderly spinster, such as primness, prudery, fastidiousness, etc. → Aust. sl., derogatory
► TAMMIE-TIT a prim, affected sort of person → 1924 Sc.

VERBS
► MIM to act in a prim, affected manner, either in speaking, eating, walking, etc. → 1905 Sc. (Bk.)
► QUAINT IT to assume a prim air → c1585 obs.